I have been really tempted to try a dedicated monochrome camera (M10M most likely) as a "main camera." For cameras, I currently have color digital (Fuji) and film (M6 and a point and shoot). I rarely convert digital photos to BW. When I shoot BW film, I don't miss color, but for some reason cannot convince myself that I will actually be happy with a monochrome camera.
For those that have pulled the trigger and bought one of the monochrome cameras (Leica M246, M10M, M11M, or otherwise), what are your thoughts? Did you trade it in and go back to color? Should I just stick with film? Is there that big of a difference between converting images to BW and shooting a dedicated monochrome camera?
Also, lets just assume that I cannot afford two digital Leicas. lol
I shoot film, both color and B/W, only 120. If it were perfectly safe to travel by air, and if the cameras were 100% safe in challenging conditions (sand, -10 F, ...), then I would probably be happy with film. But film and film cameras are delicate, so I bought a Q2M for tougher conditions, it's a banger, and a I rarely miss color.
Why not have both? I do have a GR IV Monochrome as well as color cameras. The monochrome is my daily carry, but if I think the places I'm going might need color I carry a fuji x70. If I'm going someplace for taking pics then I will take a larger camera plus the monochrome. In the daily carry the monochrome helps me stay focused on light, shadow, and textures. I love monochrome reminding me of my film days in the '80's when I shot and developed B&W.
cmatthews74 wrote:
I have been really tempted to try a dedicated monochrome camera (M10M most likely) as a "main camera." For cameras, I currently have color digital (Fuji) and film (M6 and a point and shoot). I rarely convert digital photos to BW. When I shoot BW film, I don't miss color, but for some reason cannot convince myself that I will actually be happy with a monochrome camera.
For those that have pulled the trigger and bought one of the monochrome cameras (Leica M246, M10M, M11M, or otherwise), what are your thoughts? Did you trade it in and go back to color? Should I just stick with film? Is there that big of a difference between converting images to BW and shooting a dedicated monochrome camera?
Also, lets just assume that I cannot afford two digital Leicas. lol...Show more →
I mostly shoot film, and where I use digital, it's for the flexibility. Still, I'm always at least passively interested in a monochrome camera just for the resolving power and crazy high-ISO performance. So not really an alternative to anything, just a different tool. But I haven't bought one yet, so I guess I don't really need that tool very badly.
I've got both, because some shooting situations are almost entirely about color. That said, outside of those situations/seasons, I'm more likely to go without color. No, I don't miss it.
I have an M10R and M10M. I haven't had the M10M very long. I like the images but I'm not convinced the Monochrom is a better option than just converting Raw files where there are more options for conversion. I'm taking both cameras on an upcoming trip and I'll decide after that if it is worth having both.
Started off with digital Leica with the M-E 240, color-based sensor - still using it as main digital camera to date. After film became more and more expensive, and scanners at airports had higher intensity, I decided to add a M 246 monochrome camera to circumvent B&W film for travel. I definitely need a color-based digital camera - too many scenes I take photos from require color. These days I am more and more using my M 246 instead of using any of my film M cameras with B&W film. The M 246 provides me nearly with the same look from inverted B&W film negatives.
treacle wrote:
I have an M10R and M10M. I haven't had the M10M very long. I like the images but I'm not convinced the Monochrom is a better option than just converting Raw files where there are more options for conversion. I'm taking both cameras on an upcoming trip and I'll decide after that if it is worth having both.
Had the same setup but I swapped the M10-R for a Zf. Ultimately the ability to push ISO into the 80k range and still end up with useable images was the tipping point. Yeah converting color to black and white works and in some cases being able to work with individual color channels can give you more options in post processing, but the limits on ISO with the M10-R wasn't worth it to me. There's also a difference in resolution between the two cameras and I think it's subtle but definitely there.
cmatthews74 wrote:
I have been really tempted to try a dedicated monochrome camera (M10M most likely) as a "main camera." For cameras, I currently have color digital (Fuji) and film (M6 and a point and shoot). I rarely convert digital photos to BW. When I shoot BW film, I don't miss color, but for some reason cannot convince myself that I will actually be happy with a monochrome camera.
For those that have pulled the trigger and bought one of the monochrome cameras (Leica M246, M10M, M11M, or otherwise), what are your thoughts? Did you trade it in and go back to color? Should I just stick with film? Is there that big of a difference between converting images to BW and shooting a dedicated monochrome camera?
Also, lets just assume that I cannot afford two digital Leicas. lol...Show more →
I think the Monochrom cameras can be a completely difference experience from normal photography if you want it to be. With my M10M I keep it in Auto ISO (up to 80k). I mostly zone focus at f5.6 or higher and capture things as they happen. I know I'm going to still get usable images at 80k ISO so I can keep my shutter speed where I need and then all I'm thinking about is composition and depth of field. I really enjoy this making photographs this way, but I also have other cameras for a more considered approach. Cameras that force to slow down. I don't know if many people use their Monochrome cameras this way but for me once I stopped trying to use it like a digital color Leica it really clicked for me.
I think the other approach is if you know you gravitate towards black and white and you want the highest possible quality image. You'll get better resolution from a dedicated Monochrom and imo overall IQ increase though it may be subtle in some cases.
I'm in the same boat with this question. Considering the M246s listed here... Very tempting, but I wonder if my skill as a BW editor is up to the challenge to wield the M246 and truly enjoy the difference. I have seen the difference in BW files between different cameras - the Leica CL produced gorgeous BW files - but don't know if I'm skilled enough to justify Monochrom.
For my personall work I have been pretty much exclusively B&W since 2012. I don't miss color at all for my personal work because B&W is pretty much the way I see creatively.
Most of my pro work is color and I can do that very well but B&W really fits me well. When I fully retire I will probably sell my 2 M10s. But I will hang on to my M 10 Mono until it breaks and can no longer be repaired.
I wouldn't give up the M10R at this point, maybe if I moved up to M11 or M12 in the future. The M10M is a maybe for me but I'll see how it goes when I'm traveling with it over the next few weeks. I really need to shoot with it at High ISOs.
I used to have a Zf too but I needed to have a camera that works with Aquatech housing so I replaced the Zf with a Z6III, no sense for me in having both.
selahsean wrote:
Had the same setup but I swapped the M10-R for a Zf. Ultimately the ability to push ISO into the 80k range and still end up with useable images was the tipping point. Yeah converting color to black and white works and in some cases being able to work with individual color channels can give you more options in post processing, but the limits on ISO with the M10-R wasn't worth it to me. There's also a difference in resolution between the two cameras and I think it's subtle but definitely there.
Also shooting with a mono camera is more about how you approach the experience. Looking, seeing and photographing things that should be captured in B&W from the beginning of the process is what its really important. It's about starting and finishing with B&W being the goal. Like loading a roll of B&W film in an 35mm SLR.
Just try it, and if it works for you, it works for you.
Personally, I photograph everything in color and convert some images to black and white when I feel like it. Fujifilm and Capture One make that easy, and Evoto has a good set of presets, many of which match the look I want for black and white. I had a session that produced a surprisingly large number of usable images, but the look does get stale after a while. So I split them into logical groups and made one group black and white (shot on a Leica, incidentally). They look very good now as several distinct sets.
I sometimes try to shoot in BW mode, Oly, GFX, Q3 are great with this in most cases, but I could not make it stick.
I have the M11 and recently got the M11M. I have been consistently wowed by the M11M. Straight out of camera the tones and sharpness are so good. I wasn't sure I would keep both but right now, neither is leaving the stable.
I have the M9M and use when I want to force myself to shoot B&W. I also have color cameras. Don't think I've ever only had the M9M with me and regretted not carrying a color camera, but when I'm unsure of shooting conditions I often carry two cameras.
Even though probably 95% of what I shoot is BW, I still like color once in awhile (mostly in the fall) so I decided to keep my Leica a non-monochrome version. But I found the GR IV Mono scratches that itch nicely in a more pocketable and cheaper package, so I still have the option of B&W only when I want. I definitely reach for the GR IV when going out at night, lack of Bayer filter on Monochrome cameras lets you push ISO higher than you’d ever think possible which is nice.
